Emergency fuel shipments from UAE and Oman sustain Pakistan’s supply amid Hormuz blockade.
WEB DESK: In a critical boost for Pakistan’s struggling energy sector, the crude oil tanker MT Nave Atropos successfully docked at Port Qasim’s FOTCO terminal on Monday, delivering approximately 50,000 metric tones of petrol. This marks the first successful fuel shipment since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively blocked due to the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict.
The arrival comes at a time of mounting concern over a national fuel shortage. With the world’s key oil chokepoint closed since early March, Pakistan has been facing the threat of a fuel “dry-out,” affecting industries and daily life.
The Nave Atropos, which sailed from Fujairah, UAE, was received with cautious optimism, as port authorities worked around the clock to integrate the cargo into the national fuel supply.
Emergency Shipments and Domestic Measures
Two additional tankers are en route: MT Spross Two carrying 55,000 tones is expected this evening, 10 March, and MT Sea Clipper with 34,000 tones on Wednesday. These shipments from the UAE and Oman are part of an emergency strategy by Islamabad to sustain fuel availability.
Domestically, authorities have enforced austerity measures. In Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has closed schools until 31 March, shifting students online to reduce fuel usage. Public sector fuel allowances have been cut by 50%, while work-from-home mandates return in major cities.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned that import costs could rise by $600 million if crude prices hit $120 per barrel. While the MT Nave Atropos brings temporary relief, Pakistan’s energy sector remains on alert for the next incoming shipments amid the Hormuz blockade.
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